For those folks interested, NWS has but together some training material for using the new DUAL-POLARIZED RADAR.
These are being rolled out to all NWS Doppler radar sites and should be completed by the end of 2012.

You can download the material yourself or watch them via the web.

Please be warned that the files are large 8mb+.
Introduction

Quote:Between now and the end of 2012, the entire fleet of WSR-88Ds (Weather Surveillance Radar -1998 Doppler) is scheduled for a major software and hardware upgrade. This upgrade, known as dual-polarization technology, will greatly enhance these radars by providing the ability to collect data on the horizontal and vertical properties of weather (e.g., rain, hail) and non-weather (e.g., insect, ground clutter) targets. The Radar Operations Center has made the Deployment Schedule available, but keep in mind that the schedule may change over time.

In support of this technology upgrade, WDTB has developed on-line training to help NWS partners learn about the system changes and provide ideas on how they might effectively incorporate these new data into their decision making process. Two different training paths are available depending on your meteorology background:

Training for meteorologists not employed by the National Weather Service (NWS) and
Training for non-meteorologists who use WSR-88D radar data.

Why upgrade to Dual Polarization Radar?

By comparing the power and timing of energy returned to the radar from both horizontal and vertical pulses, we can glean information such as the size, shape, and composition of precipitation particles.
What are the Potential Benefits of Dual-Pol?

The full benefit of dual-pol radar, however, will not be fully realized until NWS forecasters and research meteorologists develop real-time expertise.

What is polarization?

A radio wave is a set of oscillating electric and magnetic fields, oriented 90 degrees to each other. Polarization of the wave is the direction, or orientation, of the electric field.

Horizontal Polarization

The electric field is oriented horizontally, along the x-axis (blue). The magnetic field is oriented vertically along the y-axis (white).

Horizontal Polarization Graph
Vertical Polarization

The electric field is oriented vertically, along the y-axis (orange). The magnetic field is oriented horizontally along the x-axis (white).

Vertical Polarization Graph

Current NWS Doppler Radar (horizontally-polarized only)

Current Doppler radar capability transmits and receives only horizontally polarized radio wave pulses. Therefore, they measure only the horizontal dimension of cloud and precipitation particles.

Non-Polarized Radar Picture

"Dual Polarized" Radar

New dual-pol capability will allow the transmit and receipt of both horizontally and vertically polarized radio wave pulses. Therefore, they measure both the horizontal and vertical dimension of cloud and precipitation particles.